Upholding Human Rights

On the occasion of its inaugural Assembly in 1977, the Uniting Church in Australia issued a Statement to the Nation. This Statement contains the Church’s promise to actively participate in Australian society and engage in public debate and the beliefs and commitments on which it would base such engagement:

'We affirm our eagerness to uphold basic Christian values and principles, such as the importance of every human being, the need for integrity in public life, the proclamation of truth and justice, the rights for each citizen to participate in decision-making in the community, religious liberty and personal dignity, and a concern for the welfare of the whole human race.'

The Church’s commitment to human rights is most fully expressed in the 2006 Uniting Church in Australia statement, Dignity in Humanity: Recognising Christ in Every Person.

This statement commits the Uniting Church to respect and uphold human rights, and to critically evaluate Government policy in light of the international human rights instruments and Australia’s human rights commitments. It encourages agencies and other groups within the Church to advocate for social policy and legislative outcomes consistent with Australia's international human rights obligations. In addition, the statement calls on the Australian Government to develop and promote human rights education and commits the Uniting Church National Assembly to promote awareness and understanding of human rights through existing and future programs.

 

Key Assembly Documents

A Uniting Church Response to Human Rights Legislation
Assembly Standing Committee
March 2008
Dignity in Humanity: Recognising Christ in Every Person
[a Uniting Church Statement on Human Rights]
National Assembly
June 2006
Implementation of Dignity in Humanity
[a resolution on torture and David Hicks]
Assembly Standing Committee
July 2006
Detention of Australian Citizens in Guantanamo Bay
National Assembly
July 2003
Statement to the Nation
Inaugural Assembly
1977

 

Information and Action Resources

Media Releases

Submissions

Human Rights Links